Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev 'denounces' Putin on Twitter after hackers access account
Medvedev's Twitter was used to announce his resignation and desire to work as a freelance photographer before re-tweeting various anti-Putin accounts
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Hackers have apparently accessed Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s Twitter account, announcing his resignation and criticising the actions of the Russian government President Vladimir Putin.
“I resign. I am ashamed for the actions of the government. I’m sorry,” read the first tweet from the verified account, followed by some 2.5 million people.
This was followed by a string of anti-Putin messages and retweets of opposition journalist, including an endorsement in English of prominent Russian lawyer and political activist Alexei Navalny.
“Crimea isn't ours. Please retweet," read one message on the account accord to ABC news, while another lamented: "We could return to the 1980s. That is sad. If that is the objective of my colleagues in the Kremlin, they'll achieve that quickly.”
Another tweet also referred to Russia’s uneasy transition to its current incarnation as the Russian Federation: “I’ve been longing to say this. Vova! You are wrong!” Vova is one of Putin’s nicknames in Russia and the phrasing refers to the catchphrase “Boris, you are wrong” aimed at reformist leader Boris Yeltin (who strengthened the president’s power in the country and was succeeded by Putin).
The hack took place at around 10:20am Moscow time (06:20 GMT) with a government spokesperson telling the state-run RIA Novosti news agency that the PM’s “Twitter account has been hacked, the messages are not genuine. We’re working on the problem.”
At this moment in time the account is back under official control and the tweets deleted. No one has claimed responsibility for the hack.
Update: Russian hacking collective Shaltay Boltay (Russian for 'Humpty Dumpty') have since claimed credit for the hack, saying they've also gained access to several email accounts belonging to Medvedev and 'three of his Apple devices'.
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